Fiber treating apparatus



Dec. 23, 1941. P. L. SHEARER FIBER TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllll-L-lll-INH 7 fwwiwx Q Q Q 5Y o on 0 .lpllllblll P. L. SHEARER FIBER TREATING APPARATUS Dec. 23, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1938 J Ml idea/er Dec. 23, 1941.

P, L. SHEARER FI BER TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec.- 23,

' UNITED STATES, PATENT 1 orFicE' FI BE R APPARATUS 1 Paul L. Shearer, New Hope, Pa; Application May 24, 1938, Serial N0. 209,783 1 Claim. (c1. ssse) This invention, relates to improvements in apparatus for treating'flb'rous paper and allied products.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus wherein the fibrous material may be both.cooked and thoroughly washed or cleaned' in a continuous operation.

tially all characters and forms of fibrous materials, such, for example, as the fibers of cotton, linen, hemp, jute, rope, rags and the like. The invention further resides in the novel materials in prep aration for use thereof in the manufacture of' ing the L from the supply pipe-when it is desired to move the casing l about its axis.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it willbe noted that at one side and intermediate the ports I andthe manholes 4 the casing i is provided with three series of overflow ports l2, l3v

and I4, respectively, the ports ofeach of these series being arranged longitudinally of the cylinder, and said series of ports afiording in effect structural form and mechanical details of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated v in the attached drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are vertical longitudinal sectional views of the respective opposite ends of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. dis a section on the line 4-4. Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a detaii of the apparatus, and

Fig. 7 a partial sectional view of the steam and water injecting elements.

with reference to the drawings, the apatus in a preferred emhodirnent comprises an outer cylindrical casing i which is adapted normally to remain relatively fixed in the position in which it is shown in l This cylincirical casing is supported at each upon a plurality oi rciiers 2 (see Figs. 3., 2 and ll, these raiders seine journaied in the fixed frames 3, 3 of the apparatus, the casing lacing thereby adapted for rotary movement about its longitudinal axis. The casing i has at one side a series of manholes 4 which afiord admission to the interior, and suitable releasable covers 5 are provided together with clamping means whereby these holes may be sealed. At the opposite side from the manholes 4, the casing i is provided with a series of ports 6 which communicate with a manifold pipe i, and to one end of this pipe I is connected, by means of an L 8, a supply pipe 9. Connection between the L 8 t is established through the medium of a detachahle coupling H which permits disconnectthree overflow levels. The ports of the series I! are connected with a manifold I! which terniinatesat one end in a discharge pipe I. The

ports of the series li-an'd II are similarly 'connected with manifolds l1 and i8 respectively, and eachof these manifolds is also provided with a discharge pipe, I9. and II. Each of the discharge pipes I i, I! and II' is provided with a valve 22. At the opposite side from the ports i2, i3 and II the casing l is provided with a plurality of ports 23 arranged in spaced series circumferentially of the casing, and all of these ports 23 are connected with"an overflow pipe 24. The

connection of each of the ports 2: with the pipe 24 is controlled by a pet cook 25.

Molmted coaxially for rotation. within the casing I is a perforated drum 26. This drum is supported at its opposite ends on trunnions 21 and 2B. As shown in Fig. 1, these trunnions extend'throush hushed journals 2! in the ends of the'casing l. Outwardly of the 1011111815 29 each of the trun'nions 2! and 28 is carried in a suitable anti-friction bearing 3| in pedestals 32, 32,

forming a part paratus.

The trunnion 21 has attached to its outerend worm wheel 33 which meshes with a worm 36 carried by a transverse shaft 35 journaled on. the associated pedestal 32. This shaft carries a pulley 36 which is connected by a belt 31 with a pulley 38 upon the armature shaft of an elecof the fixed frames 3, 3 of the aptric motor 39 mounted on the base frame 3. By

and the supply pipe means of the motor 39 and the above described transmission mechanism, the perforated drum 26 may be rotated in the casing i.

' The drum 26 is provided with a longitudinal spaced series of openings 4|" which are adapted.

to be closed by door elements 42 hinged to the outer side of the drum, as shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, this latter figure showing the door elements of one of the elements 41 inthe open position. These doors are provided with toggle latches 43 by means of which they may be securely clamped in closed position,. and as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each of the movable hinge elements is, provided with a spring latch engages'a lug. 45 on the fixed element of the hingeto thereby retain the door elements 42 releasably in the open positions, as shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the openings H of the perforated drum are arranged respectively in circumferential alignment with the manholes 4 ofithe outer casing I so that when the inner drum is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3 with the openings 4| at the top, the latter will in effect register with the respective manholes. Means is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, for locking the inner drum and the outer casing I in this relative position wherein as explained the manholes 4 and the openin s 4| are in registration. This locking means consists'of a collar secured to the trunnion 21 and having in its periphery a slot 41 which is adapted to receive a latch 48 pivotally secured at 45 to the end member of the casing I. A handle 5I is provided for shifting this latch from the inoperative position, in which it is shown in Fig. 1, to the operative position in which the latch 45 as described occupies the slot 41 in the collar 45. A spring-pressed detent'52 is' provided for releasably retainingthe latch in each of the operative and inoperative positions.

The fluid supply or feed '7. Connected to this section through ports, respectively 54 and 55, are pipes and 51, the first of these pipes being connected to a source of water supply and the second to a source of steam.

pipe 9 has at its upper end a nozzle section 53, as shown in Figs. 2 and Extending inwardly from the port 55 and connected with the pipe 51 is a nozzle 58 which extends longitudinally through the fitting 53. The outer end of this nozzle 54 occupies a position within a second nozzle 59 forming one terminal end of the fitting 53, this latter nozzle being connected with the port 54. The nozzles 55 and 55 and their connections constitute an injector whereby water may be forced by the steam intoand through the supply pipe 8 and its connections to the interior of the casing I. A valve 5| controls the water pipe 55, and a second valve 52 controls the steampipe 51 so that the supply pipes 55 and 51 may be connected separately or jointly to the supply pipe 9.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-

With the casing I and drum 25 in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, in which positions they may be locked by means of the latch 48, as previously described, the fiber stock together with any chemicals that may be employed in the process may be introduced into the drum 25 by removal of the manhole covers 5 and the subsequent opening of the doors 42 of thef'inner drum. After introduction of the stock, the doors 42 are closed and locked by means of the toggle clamp 43 and the manhole covers 5 subsequently clamped in the manholes 4 to close and seal the latter. With the supply pipe 5 connected to the manifold 1, the valves H and 52 may now be opened to admit steam and hot water to the interior of the casing I, and when sufilcientwater is present, the valve ii is closed and steam alone admitted to maintain the desired temperature and pressure. The fiber stock within-the drum 25 is thus subjected to the action of the' hot water and steam for such time and at such pressure as may be found suitable. During this treatment, the drum 25 may be continuously rotated. Action of the chemicals, hot water and steam softens the stock, dissolves the grease and frees the stock from the grease and other foreign .tions of the fiber mass with the water.

substances. After cooked, hot water may be again introduced through the ports 5 into the bottom of the casing, this introduction of water being effected by opening the valve 5|, and the steam entering its surface the greases and oils which have been 7 released by the prior action of steam, together with any foreign matter of low specific gravity. The water rising in the casing overflows from the latter through one of the series of ports I2,

I3 or I4, the valve 22 associated with the par- I ticular series employed being opened to permit discharge of the overflow to the drain. Carried from the casing with this overflow are the greases and oils and other floating matter. During this operation the drum 25 preferably is continuously rotated to insure intimate contact of all the por- This washing and cleaning operation may be conducted through a sufiiciently extended period of time to insure a thorough washing of the fibrous material and discharge from the casing. of the greases, oils and other foreign floating substances. Particles of metal, sand and other foreign materials of relatively high specific gravity will fall by gravity to the bottom of the drum 25, and will pass through the perforations into the bottom of the casing I for subsequent removal, as hereinafter described.

Itis to be noted that the three overflow levels provided by the spaced series of overflow ports I2, I3 and I4 permit efllcient operation of the apparatus with varying amounts of fibrous ma- .terial in the drum. The ports 23, through the medium of the pet cocks 25 and drain pipe 24, provide a simple means for determining the level of the water in the casing I; It will be noted. further that the interior of the drum 25 is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting pins 53, which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are arranged preferably in a spiral series and which function to maintain the fiber mass in continual agitation'as the drum 25 is rotated.

Subsequently the valves 22, 5| and 52 are closed, as also is the valve 54 in the L 5, the casing being thus sealed and disconnected from the sources of water and steam supply. The

drum 26 is now moved into the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the openings 4| arein alignment with the manholes 4 and the latch 45 is adjusted to lock the drum 25 and the casing I hook 51 on the casing, and the valve 54 again I closed. The manhole covers 5 are now removed and the toggle clamps 43 released to loosen the door elements 42, and the casing I together with the drum 25 is rotated through an angle of thereby bringing the manholes 5 and the aligned openings 4i of the drum into the inverted position, as shown in Fig. 6. In this position, the door elements 42 drop downwardly and are releasably retained inthe open position by the spring latches 44, as previously described. The clean fiber now falls by gravity through the openthe stock has been thoroughlyings II and the manholes 4. ,In' order to facilitate .the discharge of the fiber, the casing and the drum may be slowly rotated, and since access is" afforded to the interior of the drum through the'manholes 4 and openings 4|,

any residual fiber may be ejected manually.

If any substantial amounts of high specific gravity solids have been separated from'the flber stock during the cooking and washing operations and have accumulated, as previously described,

in the bottom of the casing I, these solids may consequent discharge of the fiber "from the apparatus.

The process carried out by means of apparatus made in accordance with my invention is a substantial improvement over the prior processes of fiber treatment. Several factors contribute to this improvement. The apparatus, for example, constitutes a single unit in which the operations both of cooking and cleaning may be conducted with a high-degree o'f efliciency. Both operations, for example, may be conducted in a single machine under accurately controlled conditions, both of pressure and temperature, and without necessity, as in the prior processes, for the employment of separate apparati and the transfer of the fiber therebetween. The cooking operation is extremely eflicient because of the thorough penetration of the fiber stock by the steam and chemicals employed. The continuous rotation and agitation of the fiber mass in the rotating inner drum insures access to all parts of the mass of the chemicals and the intimate contact of all the fiber particles with the chemicals. Similarly and for the same reasons'the cleansing or washing operation is highly efiiclent in that the continual agitation of the fiber mass in the drum insures separation of all of the loosened oils and greases which pass immediately to the upper surface of the liquidbath to be carried After these of! without recontamination of the fibers through the surface outlets. Efliciency is further per- 'mitted by the method 0! introducing the water at adjusted temperature and pressure through the bottom of the outer shell, the circulation being upwardly through the fiber mass and out at the surface outlets. A further advantage is afforded by the provision of the aforedescribed means for separating and segregating from the fiber stock the solid impurities of higher specific gravity, such as sand and particles of metal,

which accumulate in the bottom of the outer casing and which may be removed separately from the latter. Advantage also resides in the relative simplicity of the apparatus, its durability and its high capacity.

I claim:

In apparatus of the character described, the

combination with an outer cylindrical liquidtight casing mounted for rotation about its longit-udinal axis, said casing having atone side a longitudinal series of ports for charging and discharging material, a duct secured to and extending longitudinally at the opposite side of the casing and communicating with the interior of the casing through, an adjoining longitudinal series of ports, means for detachably connecting said duct to a source of fiuid supply, a valve for control of said duct, a plurality of ducts secured to and extending longitudinally of the casing intermediate the first-named duct and the said series of material ports, said plurality of ducts being' spaced from each other circumferentially of the casing and as a group more closely adjoining the said material ports than the said fluid supply duct, each of said plurality of ducts communicating through a longitudinal series of ports with ing' and discharging material, said ports being.

circumferentially alignable with the correspondingports or the outer casing, releasable covers for-the said ports of the inner receptacle, mechanism connected with said receptacle for rotating may be inverted with the the latter, and means for releasably connecting said receptacle with the casing so that the latter receptacle as a unit. PAUL L. SHEARER. 

